Cats’ cradle

From
Max Aston

Cats are often infected with Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that is passed on to other animals, including humans, via their faeces. Most people don’t have any obvious symptoms, but it is known to affect the brains of small rodents, making them behave recklessly and so be more likely to become cat food. This symbiosis of cat and protozoa must have evolved over many thousands of years.

Perhaps this solitary predator has parasitised humans so successfully, despite its withdrawn and aloof behaviour, through similar means.Lower Hutt, New Zealand